Why do airlines ask to pull the window blinds while landing and takeoff?

Answer 1

Let me first say that I can't remember ever being asked this. I have had flight attendants on overnight flights ask me to close the blinds so that the rising sun doesn't wake passengers who are trying to sleep.

This practice may be limited to particular airlines, in which case you'd probably get a better answer by writing to them directly and asking.

Alternatively, it's possible that this may be standard practice at some airports for security reasons, or to avoid scaring the **** out of people: I was once on an airplane that taxied across a runway while another plane was in final approach. It was probably miles off or the tower would never have cleared it, but it's still a little disconcerting to be trundling along at taxi speed while a 747 approaches you at what you know must be several hundred miles per hour, especially at night when it's hard to accurately judge distances.